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Thread: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

  1. #1
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    System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    I've just built the following:

    730W Be Quiet! BN183
    128GB Corsair Performance Pro
    Core i7 2600K
    4x 4GB Corsair XMS3 1333MHz
    Asus P8Z68-V GEN 3

    It boots fine with RAM in the left hand slots, but as soon as I add anything in the right side, whether it's one stick or two, it refuses to boot - no screen output & the RAM/Mem-OK red LED is on solid.

    I tried pressing the Mem-OK button, it flashed for a bit, but then went back to solid.

    As above, it boots absolutely fine with memory only in the left hand slot.

    I have tried different sticks / combinations in the right, nothing will work

    I have also booted, set the XMP profile, voltages, etc., then stuck the rest of the RAM in, but no luck.

    I'm using the stock 2600K cooler which went in nicely, so I doubt it'd warped or anything like that.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    jim
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Assuming we number the slots 1, 2, 3 and 4, with 1 and 2 being the left hand slots and 3 and 4 being the right hand slots, what configurations have you tried?

    I understand that 1 + 2 works fine, but what it is that you're having trouble with? 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 or just 3 + 4?

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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Yep, 3 and 4 on the right.

    Basically whenever there's RAM in the right hand slot(s), regardless of the combination it won't boot.

    I have tried 1+2+3+4, 3+4, 3, 4

    This works: 1+2, 1, 2

    And I've swapped the RAM around to rule out the possibility of that being faulty.

  4. #4
    jim
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Have you checked the mobo manual? It might be that you must populate 1+2 before you can populate 3 or 4.

    Also, on some motherboards it won't boot with more than 2 RAM sticks unless you start overvolting the motherboard.

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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Surely it would boot with sticks in 3+4, or a single stick in either 3 or 4 though?

  6. #6
    jim
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Well, a lot of boards recommend using 1 + 2, then 3 + 4. I admit I've never seen one that requires it, but it's a possibility that seems worth checking out as a first point.

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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    I'm not really sure what to do once it's booted with 1+2?

    I have tried booting with 1+2, then setting the correct voltages etc (I have tried the XMP profile and the default profile with 1.5v). but as soon as 3 and/or 4 are populated it fails

  8. #8
    jim
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Quote Originally Posted by Craig321 View Post
    I'm not really sure what to do once it's booted with 1+2?

    I have tried booting with 1+2, then setting the correct voltages etc (I have tried the XMP profile and the default profile with 1.5v). but as soon as 3 and/or 4 are populated it fails
    That's what my old socket 775 board did all the time, it could not support 4 sticks of DDR2 simultaneously. It was essential to overvolt the Northbridge in order to make it work properly.

    Problem is, I don't think the Z68 works very similarly at all to socket 775, so that may no longer be the case. Also, it doesn't explain why 2 sticks in slots 3 + 4 fails.

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      • 4x 4GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Yup, I had the same with my old 775 build, had to put more volts through to stabilise 4 sticks.

    One combination I haven't tried is 1+3, but I don't hold much hope for that. Will try tomorrow.

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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Thats a first one but I've found on the boards I've had, in order to run Dual Channel, I've had to run sticks in slot 1 and 3, I've found it to be the case on the 3 Asus boards I've had on the SB platform.

    Though a quick skim on the manual should indicate how different RAM configurations would run in occupying the slots.

    Good luck.

  11. #11
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Sounding like a defective motherboard. I've had boards with non-functioning RAM slots before, it's not massively uncommon.
    Main PC: Asus Rampage IV Extreme / 3960X@4.5GHz / Antec H1200 Pro / 32GB DDR3-1866 Quad Channel / Sapphire Fury X / Areca 1680 / 850W EVGA SuperNOVA Gold 2 / Corsair 600T / 2x Dell 3007 / 4 x 250GB SSD + 2 x 80GB SSD / 4 x 1TB HDD (RAID 10) / Windows 10 Pro, Yosemite & Ubuntu
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  12. #12
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    This really sounds like a motherboard fault.

    I downloaded the motherboard manual from the Asus website.
    Memory slots are labelled:

    A1 A2 B1 B2

    Looks like you are supposed to insert memory in pairs as:
    A2+B2
    then for 4:
    A1+B1, A2+B2


    Sounds like plugging anything into memory channel B results in a dead machine. Doesn't bode well.
    This also means at best with 2 DIMMS you are running as single channel memory so losing performance.

  13. #13
    jim
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    I would agree with that. Thought stick configuration was a possibility, but if that's wjat the manual's saying then I can't see what it can be other than bust slots or bust channels.

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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    All working now.

    After trying with the motherboard out of the case (i.e. bare bones) and having no luck I decided to re-seat the CPU as I was about to pack it all up to send back. Somehow reseating the CPU has fixed the problem .

    All booted & installing Windows 7 now. Will keep an eye on it of course!

    Thanks for all the suggestions / comments.

  15. #15
    jim
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    • jim's system
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Quote Originally Posted by Craig321 View Post
    All working now.

    After trying with the motherboard out of the case (i.e. bare bones) and having no luck I decided to re-seat the CPU as I was about to pack it all up to send back. Somehow reseating the CPU has fixed the problem .

    All booted & installing Windows 7 now. Will keep an eye on it of course!

    Thanks for all the suggestions / comments.
    Crazy! I nearly suggested it, as I once had a very similar problem that affected all of the RAM slots, and it was the CPU at fault, but I thought since it was only some of them it couldn't be that.

    At least you've got it fixed now

    Just shows how odd PC building can be at times.

  16. #16
    root Member DanceswithUnix's Avatar
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    Re: System won't boot with memory in right hand slots

    Nice one! The memory channels are driven from the CPU on modern machines so it makes sense, just the first time I have heard of this.

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